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L.A. auto show: Coda pushes EV launch back to second half of 2011

The battery-powered Coda sedan uses a chassis imported from China, based on an older-model Mitsubishi car previously sold in Asia.

Electric car start up Coda Automotive will delay the launch of its battery-powered sedan until the second half of next year, interim CEO Mac Heller said Wednesday at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

Coda had been planning to start sales next month.

Heller, who replaced Kevin Czinger as CEO last month, said the delay is a move to "build buffer time into the schedule."

He said there are no problems with the sedan Coda is preparing to sell through factory-owned retail outlets.

The sedan uses a chassis imported from China, based on an older model Mitsubishi car previously sold in Asia.

The Santa Monica, Calif., venture applied in June for a U.S. Department of Energy loan to fund the construction of an electric-car battery plant in Ohio. Heller, an investor in the company who had been vice chairman, said the DOE application is still pending. He is restricted from commenting on it.

He said Czinger remains a senior strategic advisor to the company.

"Kevin remains an important part of this company," Heller said during a reception at the company's display booth at the L.A. show.

Heller says an executive search is under way for a new CEO and he does not intend to keep the job.